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UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists Funds Four Programs

KNOXVILLE – In its debut year, the University of Tennessee Alliance of Women Philanthropists Board of Directors has awarded more than $40,000 to four UT programs.

As part of their mission to educate, empower and inspire women to be philanthropic leaders, the board members of the Alliance of Women Philanthropists have established and funded an annual giving circle. The program supports the instruction, research, outreach and fundraising initiatives of UT students, faculty and alumni.

Participants who receive grant funding develop a new project or program or they expand substantially upon an existing project or program. Grant-funded projects and programs promote the spirit of the Alliance by providing opportunities to inspire leadership within the statewide UT community. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 and are awarded annually to the most innovative applicants.

Selected for funding are:

– UT Health Science Center, Department of OB/GYN, $10,000 for a project examining cardiovascular health risk among high-risk urban pregnancies; – UT Martin, Percussive Arts Society, $8,000 for student ambassadors to travel to Mexico and visit the University of Tampico and the University of Guanajuato; – UT Chattanooga, Continuing Education, Youth University, $7,500 for Youth University scholarships and stipends for students and student-teachers. The program allows student- teachers and UTC education majors to enhance their teaching skills while offering educational programming for inner-city elementary children; and – UT Knoxville, Student Orientation & Leadership Development, $15,000 for the Women and Leadership Program, which promotes leadership through mentoring relationships and educational programs.

Grant recipients submit a mid-year and final progress report of their project or program to the Alliance of Women Philanthropists Board of Directors.

Giving circle grant applications are currently being accepted for 2009. The deadline is Jan. 30, 2009. Students, faculty, staff, departmental units and student organizations from all UT campuses are eligible.

A decade ago the UT Alliance of Women Philanthropists was founded to encourage UT alumnae and other women who care about the university to consider making private gifts to support the university’s programs. Membership in the alliance includes women who have given or pledged at least $25,000 to any campus or unit of the university.